Three Peaks: Snowdon via Pyg Track

Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa in Welsh) is the highest peak in Wales at 1085m and one of the most visited mountains in the world, attracting well over 500,000 walkers each year. The Pyg Track is widely considered the finest ascent route, offering the most dramatic approach across glacial cwms with outstanding views of the mountain's multiple ridges and corries. The route covers 11km return from the Pen-y-Pass trailhead and involves 730m of elevation gain, typically taking 4 to 5 hours. Pen-y-Pass sits at 359m on the A4086 at the head of the Llanberis Pass, approximately 8km east of Llanberis village. The car park charges approximately £10 to £12 for a full day and fills completely before 7am on summer weekends. The Sherpa S1 bus service connects Llanberis, Caernarfon, and Nant Gwrynant to Pen-y-Pass, running frequently from spring through autumn and making car-free access straightforward. Snowdonia National Park Authority actively encourages use of the bus to reduce congestion on the A4086. From Pen-y-Pass, the Pyg Track climbs steadily across open moorland before traversing below the dramatic north face of Y Lliwedd. The path zigzags above Llyn Llydaw—a glacial lake that drains the Cwm Dyli—then ascends more steeply across loose scree and rock toward Bwlch Glas, the col where the Miners' Track joins from below. The final ridge leads to the Hafod Eryri visitor centre and café at the summit. Terrain is well-defined but rough: compacted earth and rock on the lower sections, transitioning to loose scree and large boulders near the top, with full wind exposure above Bwlch Glas. The summit has a visitor centre, toilets, and a café open from Easter through October. The Snowdon Mountain Railway (rack and pinion) serves the summit from Llanberis for walkers wishing to descend by train; advance booking is essential. Summit views on clear days extend across Anglesey, the Irish Sea, and to the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland and the Isle of Man.